10:30 AM–12:18 PM, Sunday, April 23, 2006
Hyatt Regency Dallas - Pegasus B
Sponsoring Units:
GGR DPF
Chair: Joseph Lykken, Fermilab
Abstract ID: BAPS.2006.APR.I5.1
10:30 AM–11:06 AM
Shamit Kachru
(Stanford University)
There is increasing evidence for a period of accelerated expansion or inflation in the very early universe. Most inflationary models are sensitive to ultra-violet properties of the underlying fundamental theory, including quantum gravity effects, so it makes sense to explore inflationary model building in the context of a UV complete framework. I discuss recent ideas about inflation in string theory, and describe some striking consequences of the simplest models. I also outline how, with simple and conservative assumptions, one can argue that there is a ``landscape'' of string vacua which encompasses diverse possibilities for low-energy physics.
To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2006.APR.I5.1